What a great use of KWL charts! I love the idea of making the connection between past and present in this way.  This last year for our district focused on a year of purpose, The intention was to highlights contributions and issues in Black America. I struggled to talk about police brutality and the tenants of Black Lives Matter while also staying true to my plans with Big History. I partnered with my co-teachers in ELA and did book clubs with books like, Brown Girl Dreaming and Ghost Boys. It was really awesome but I love this idea of it coming up more organically within our curriculum. I wonder how easy it is for students to make those connections on their own and how much of this would be guided. Thanks for the share!

Thank you!  I would say it's quite easy for some students to come up with those connections on their own, depending on how aware they are of what's happening in the world, which is why that's such a focus for me.  Once my students have that awareness, though, they make the connections so quickly!  I'm always so impressed at how their brains work.

Thank you!  I would say it's quite easy for some students to come up with those connections on their own, depending on how aware they are of what's happening in the world, which is why that's such a focus for me.  Once my students have that awareness, though, they make the connections so quickly!  I'm always so impressed at how their brains work.